Effectiveness of different cryotherapies on pain and disease activity in active rheumatoid arthritis. A randomised single blinded controlled trial

CER2805
2006 Vol.24, N°3
PI 0295, PF 0301
Full Papers

Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)

PMID: 16870097 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Local cryotherapy is used to relieve pain and inflammation in injuries and inflammatory conditions. Whole-body cryotherapy is an extreme method administered at -110°C for 2 to 3 minutes. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of cryotherapies on pain and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS:
Sixty patients with active seropositive RA were recruited in a randomised controlled single-blinded study to receive whole-body cryotherapy at -110°C, whole-body cryotherapy at -60°C, application of local cold air at -30°C and the use of cold packs locally. In the final analysis, the last 2 groups were pooled. The patients had 2-3 cryotherapy sessions daily for one week plus conventional physiotherapy. Clinical and laboratory variables and patient`s and physician`s global assessments were used to assess the outcome. Disease activity was calculated by DAS.
RESULTS:
Pain decreased in all treatment groups, most markedly in the whole-body cryotherapy (-110°C) group. DAS decreased slightly with no statistically significant differences between the groups. No serious or permanent adverse effects were detected. Six of 40 patients (15%) discontinued the whole-body cryotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Pain seemed to decrease more in patients in the whole-body cryotherapy at -110°C than during other cryotherapies, but there were no significant differences in the disease activity between the groups. However, cryotherapy at -110°C is expensive and available only in special centres and may have minor adverse effects. Based on our results, whole-body cryotherapy at -110°C is not superior to local cryotherapy commonly used in RA patients for pain relief and as an adjunct to physiotherapy.